President Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife. Source: Getty Images.
After Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu ordered violent measures against protesters, the rebellion spread throughout the country, reaching Bucharest, with the armed forces fraternizing with the protesters. On 22 December, Ceauşescu flees the capital by helicopter with his wife but ends up captured by the armed forces. Both were convicted by a military court and ended up sentenced to death for several crimes. After the fall of Nicolae Ceauşescu, Ion Iliescu wins the presidential election in 1990.
